James Franklin is out and Penn State football’s vaunted recruiting classes of 2026 and 2027 are in shambles.
Terry Smith has taken over as interim coach but his appointment hasn’t stemmed the tide of decommitments. So far 18 recruits have reopened their recruitments and there could be even more in the following weeks.
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Terry Smith
The 2027 Class, which was one of the top rated in the nation, has been wiped from existence following the decommitments of all four of its members. The biggest loss was Kemon Spell, a 5-star running back from McKeesport, PA and one of the top rated players in the entire country.
For the 2026 Class, Penn State has lost multiple players, including their top rated quarterback and one would have to imagine more are still coming as eight other players have reopened their recruiting and will consider other schools. Top 100 commit Matt Sieg, a safety out of Fort Cherry, PA has now scheduled visits, to Indiana, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh in the wake of the coaching change.
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
In the last week, two four-star secondary commitments, Darrell Carey and Julian Person decided to re-open their recruiting.
This list is fluid and figures to change a lot between now and whenever the Nittany Lions make a hire.
Decommitments
Class of 2027
- 5-star RB Kemon Spell, McKeesport, PA – Oct 12
- 5-star OT Layton Von Brandt, Middletown, DE – Oct 12
- 4-star CB Gabe Jenkins, Pittsburgh, PA – Oct 12
- 4-star WR Khalil Taylor, Gibsonia, PA – Oct 10
Class of 2026
- 3-star WR Lavar Keys, Hyattsville, Md. – Oct 12
- 4-star WR Davion Brown, Richmond, VA – Oct 13
- 4-star QB Troy Huhn, San Marcos, CA – Oct 1
- 3-star S Darrell Carey, Hyattsville, MD – Oct 28
- 4-star CB Julian Peterson, Atco, NJ – Oct 22
Reopened recruiting
Class of 2026
- 4-star LB Terry Wiggins, Coatesville, PA
- 4-star WR Jahsiear Rogers, Middleton, DE
- 4-star S Matt Sieg, McDonald, PA
- 4-star ATH David Davis, Pittsburgh, PA
- 4-star OL Kevin Brown, Harrisburg, PA
- 4-star RB Messiah Mickens, Harrisburg, PA
- 4-star LB Elijah Littlejohn, Charlotte, NC
- 3-star CB Amauri Polydor, Baltimore, MD
- 3-star OT Marlen Bright, Wayne, NJ
- 3-star OL Benjamin Eziuka, Novi, MI
- 3-star CB Jaziel Hart, Roanoke, VA
- 3-star LB Mathieu Lamah, Nokesville, VA
- 3-star OT Jack Fuchs, Hendersonville, PA
- 3-star S Darrell Carey, Hyattsville, MD
- 3-star CB Julian Peterson, Atco, NJ
- 3-star OT Tavian Branch, Taylor, PA
- 3-star DL Isaac Chukwurah, Bear, DE
- 3-star DL Alexander Haskell, Philadelphia, PA
Reaffirmations
As of this point, nobody has reaffirmed their commitment.
